A Look Back

∎ Howard R. Garis, 89, internationally known writer of children’s stories and affectionately known as “Uncle Wiggily,” died this morning at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was author of over 200 books for children, including the Uncle Wiggily series, the Rocket Riders, the Teddy series, and many others.

∎ Army 2nd Lt. John H. Fagan, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Fagan, of Fifth Avenue, recently completed the eight-week field artillery officer orientation course at the Artillery and Missile Center, Fort Sill, Okla. The 21-year-old officer is a 1958 graduate of Northampton High School and a 1962 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, where he was first in his class.

25 Years Ago

∎ A recent survey indictes that a majority of Northampton residents support zoning changes and other strategies that could increase the city’s pool of affordable housing. But far fewer seem to believe those changes would work in their own neighborhoods.

∎ Ward 6 City Councilor James G. Brooks has revived efforts to acquire a full-time radar officer and an unmarked police cruiser for Northampton, and tonight will ask the City Council to put the request as a referendum question on the March 8 state election ballot.

10 Years Ago

∎ Dumpster fires, illegal bars, keg parties and lawns littered with beer cans could become things of the past on fraternity row at the University of Massachusetts. “We don’t tolerate that any more,” said Sasanka Atapattu, a University of Massachusetts senior, president of the Interfraternity Council and a member of Phi Sigma Kappa on North Pleasant Street.

∎ The ongoing removal of several greenhouses at Montgomery Rose and the placement of red flags along the North Maple Street edge of the property has increased speculation that preparation for a Home Depot store has begun. But Hadley Building Inspector Timothy Neyhart said his best guess is that the retailer will not open a store on the site until 2004, at the earliest.